Spring-fork.



M. EKSTROM.

SPRING PORK.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.8, 1913.

1,096,417. Patented May 12, 1914.

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1; NITE MARTIN EKSTROM, OF KIRON, IOWA.

SPRING-FORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. atented May 12, 1914..

Application filed November 8, 1913. Serial No. 799,926.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN EKs'rnoM, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Kiron, in the county of Crawford and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring- Forks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an improved bicycle fork, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a fork which is so constructed that it will take up jolts due to running over uneven roads.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the fork that the various portions will be permitted to have very easy movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved spring device for keeping the fork in its normal position.

Other objects and advantages of the pres ent device will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the forward portion of a bicycle provided with the improved fork. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a bicycle. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the forward portion of a bicycle. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bracket which is secured to the post of the bicycle. Fig. 5 is a view of the blank from which the bracket shown in Fig. 4 is made. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the links which are pivotally connected with the upper ends of the auxiliary forks.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the post of the bicycle frame in which the primary forks 11 are rotatably mounted. The auxiliary forks 12 are connected with. the hub of the wheel 13 and have their upper ends connected by the bolt 14 upon which the links 15 are pivotally mounted. These links 15 are mounted upon the bolt 14 between the auxiliary forks 12 and are held in spaced relation by a sleeve 16. The inner end portions 17 of these links 15 are bent inwardly and are pivotally connected with the tongue 18 of a bracket 19 which bracket is secured to the primary forks 11 by means of bolts passing through the openings 20 formed in the side tongues of the bracket. Short strips 21. are pivotally connected with the lower ends of the pri mary forks 11 and are also pivotally connected with the auxiliary forks by means of the links 22. Springs 523 are connected with the upper ends of the strips 21 and are connected with the outer ends of the links 15 by means of the rods 2-1.

When this fork is in use, the springs 23 prevent the primary forks 11 from normally forcing the links 22 below the horizontal position. If the front wheel strikes an uneven place in the road, the jolt will cause the auxiliary forks to move vertically and this will cause the springs 23 to expand and contract, thus taking up the jolt and preventing the rider from being jolted. This construction will, therefore, permit the wheel to ride very easily since the several parts of the fork are pivotally connected togcther, and are yieldably held in normal position by springs.

What is claimed is 1. In a device of the character described, a pair of primary forks, a pair of auxiliary forks, a bracket carried by said primary forks, links pivotally connected with said auxiliary forks and pivotally connected with said bracket, strips pivotally connected with said primary forks, links pivotally connecting said strips with said auxiliary forks, springs connected with the upper ends of said strips, and rods connecting said springs with the outer ends of said first-mentioned links.

2. A device of the character described comprising a pair of primary forks, a pair of auxiliary forks. strips pivotally connected to the lower ends of said primary forks, links pivotally connected with the upper ends of said auxiliary forks and having their outer ends extending beyond said auxiliary forks, springs connected with the upper ends of said strips, rods carried by said springs and connected with the outer ends of said links, a bracket carried by said primary forks and pivotally connected with the inner ends of said links. and links pivotally connecting said strips with the lower end portions of said auxiliary forks.

3. A device of the character described comprising a pair of primary forks, a pair strips with the lower end portions of said of auxiliary forks, strips carried by said auxiliary forks. 10

primary forks, links pivotally connected In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my with the upper ends of said auxiliary forks signature in presence of two witnesses.

and pivotally connected with said primary MARTIN EKSTBOM. forks, resilient means connectingsaid strips Witnesses:

with the outer end portions of said links, REUBEN BULLER,

and means for pivotally connecting said CLARENCE A. AUDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

